Just because they don't look perfect, doesn't mean they don't taste great.

Strawberry season has finally started and we can't wait for shortcakes and tarts and berry salads. But even if you're someone who can easily eat a whole pint in one sitting, buy enough strawberries and you'll end up with a few going mushy on you. You know: the ones that got smashed and squished or just stay in the fridge too long. You might not want to snack on them, but these berries are delicious and shouldn't be tossed in the waste bin. (We're all about wasting less around here.)

Wondering what to do with those sad leftover strawberries? We've got you covered:

Get Saucy

Turn your not-so-perfect strawberries into a simple sauce and the possibilities are endless. You can simply purée them in a blender until saucey, but for even more flavor, try this trick: place the berries in a heatproof bowl, sprinkle with a little sugar, cover with plastic wrap, and heat gently over a saucepan filled with simmering water. The heat will help pull some of the water from the fruit, condensing the flavor.

No matter how you make it, once you’ve got a sauce, you can use it as a syrupy topping for pancakes, sundaes, cakes, the works. Freeze that sauce and you’ve got instant granita or popsicles. Or add some oil and vinegar to turn it into salad dressing or steak marinade.

Pie Please

Sure, for snacking and salad, you want perfect looking berries. But once heat hits those strawberries, they turn to mush no matter how they started out. If you end up with a pint of so-so looking berries, no one will know if they're turned into a pie, cobbler, or crumble. Or you can roast them sans pie crust, and serve with whipped cream for a simple summer dessert.

Blend It

For instant satisfaction, throw those berries into the blender—the mushiness helps them break down faster and into a smoother mixture. Use as suggested above for sauce, or add some milk or yogurt to create a smoothie. You can also mix in some ice cream for a milkshake, or keep it plain with blended ice for a fresh take on a slushie.

Muffins Meet Strawberries

Brown bananas are great mashed into bread. Overripe strawberries can be used in just the same way, mashed or simply chopped, and mixed into sweet breads, muffin batter, pancake mix, or any other cake or baked good.

Jam Time

To make jam for canning. it's best to use fruit and berries that have no blemishes. But bruised and blemished berries work just fine for a small batch of jam that you'll use quickly, or one that you plan to store in the freezer. (Added bonus: No need canning jars necessary!)

The Pink Lemonade Treatment

Skip the packaged stuff and spike your summer lemonade pitcher with mashed strawberries to create that pinkish hue. Or toss them into some rosé, for a springy cocktail. You can also add some of your puréed strawberry mixture into lemon curd for the prettiest pink lemonade bars.

Frozen

Not quite ready to turn your mushy strawberries into dessert? Instead of tossing them, keep them in the freezer and you'll have a great mix-in the next time you're making a smoothie or ice cream. Or purée them into sauce and freeze that. You can even portion it out, using an ice cube tray, to use for salad dressing, meat marinades, and quick desserts anytime you want.